Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.11, 2013

Behavior, Speech and Rightness: An Analysis of the “Generic” Idea of Pre-Qin Philosophers

(Abstract)

Li Wei

The appearance of the “generic” notion was an important symbol of rational consciousness. The meaning and value of the “generic” idea of pre-Qin philosophers can be better understood from the perspective of “rightness” or “decorum of speech and behavior.” Due partly to the practical demand for the establishment of a new socio-political order since the Spring and Autumn period and partly to the full consciousness of  humanism during the period, arguments about “genus” by the pre-Qin philosophers focused on behavior and speech and were oriented towards rightness. Mo Zi stressed the criteria whereby people were supposed to abide by “justice” and use generic names in a right way. Mencius and Xun Zi noted that the possible causes for right behavior might include intrinsic motivation for behavior and external mode of rites that performed a “classifying” role. The legalists lay emphasis on how to overcome the subjective deficiencies of rulers. Zhuang Zi tried to reveal the uncertainties of the “right and wrong” classification of speech. And in the latter period, Mo Zi attempted to identify the right use of generic names by revealing the boundaries of similar things. On the other hand, he emphasized that the certainty of the “right or wrong” classification of speech enabled its rightness to be judgeable. Such ideas are not only logical but also political and ethical.